Ezekiel 16:12

A jewel. Hebrew nezem, properly a “ring,” and so translated in Genesis 24:47. The phrase reads literally, “a nose ring on thy nostril.” In Isaiah 3:21 the same combination of words is translated “nose jewels.” Some think the reference may be to jewels set in the side of the nose, such as are commonly worn in the East today.

The question may be raised: Should one find in this passage a sanction for indulgence in such luxury today, for was it not God Himself who thus profusely decked this maid? The answer is No. First of all, the incident is figurative, and the imagery is borrowed from a contemporary situation. A parallel situation is that of Jesus using the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, which centered around an utterly false dogma as far as the intermediate state is concerned (see COL 263). Furthermore, things sanctioned, or at least permitted, under the lesser illumination of the Old Testament are often, under the greater light of the gospel age, no longer sanctioned. Typical examples are polygamy and easy divorce (see on Deuteronomy 14:26). Jewelry and extravagant dress for Christian women are spoken against (1 Timothy 2:9, 10; 1 Peter 3:3, 4).